Insulator post



H. J. CUDNEY INSULATOR POST March 24, 1931.

Filed May 24, 1928 Patented Mar. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY J. CUDNEY, OI BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASBIGNOB TO I'LEXLUHE CORPORATION; OF TONAWANDA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK INSULATOR POST Application filed Kay 24, 1928. Serial No. 280,179.

This invention relates to improvements in insulator pins or posts of the kind which are especially intended for use in connection with electroluminescent signs such as the so-called neon sign. In practice, such posts are generally fitted between the tube and the si 11 face at intervals along the length of the tu e in order to support or brace the tube.

Considered from a manufacturing standpoint, it is desirable that the posts be made adjustable as to length, inasmuch as the distance between the face of the sign and different tubes or different parts of the same tubes varies somewhat. Length adjustment 5 is also desirable in order that the posts may be set in lace after the tubes have been secured to t e sign.

Heretofore hard rubber posts have been employed for this purpose. These posts were constructed in two sections and threaded together so as to permit adjustment. The use of hard rubber posts has not, however, been altogether satisfactory inasmuch as they become warped under exposure to the elements and are thus often rendered useless. The exposure to the elements and to the ozone which is always present around high voltage installations, also causes them to deteriorate with the result of decreasing their insulation value and hence increasing the leakage current from the tube. The decrease in insulation value also increases the electrostatic stress on the tube.

The main object of this invention is to overcome the above mentioned difficulties to a great extent at least, and therefore, to provide an adjustable insulator post construction which will not deteriorate noticeabl under the ordinary conditions of use suc as to exposure to the elements and to ozone.

A further object is to provide an insulator post which may be easily and cheaply manufactured, readily secured to the sign body and quickly adjusted to the desired length.

The insulator post essentially consists of a threaded stem which is adapted for securement to the sign body so as to project from the sign face, an insulating member slidably fitted over the stem and means for holding the member in any position to which it may be slidably adjusted, the outer end of the member being, of course, adapted for engagement with a tube of the sign. This construction permits the use of an insulating member composed of glass which is well recognized as one of the best insulators for this class of work.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the insulator post as it appears in use, only a fragment of the sign body and tube being shown.

Figure 2 is a side elevation at right angles to Fig. 1.

. Figure 3 is a view in elevation of the holding means.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the holding means.

Figure 5 is a view along line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

The threaded stem indicated at 1 is composed of any suitable material such as metal, and is preferably made in the form of a screw or bolt having a head 2. The stem is intended to be secured to the sign body S and to this end, a metal supporting leaf 3 is provided. The leaf 3 is formed with an aperture through which the stem 1 projects, this portion of the leaf 3 being dished so that it extends over the stem head 2 whereby it may be placed against the face of the sign S. The leaf 3 is secured to the sign body in any suitable manner as by the screw 4.

The insulating member 5 is preferably fashioned in the form of a sleeve or cylinder whereby it may be slidably fitted over the projecting portion of the stem 1. The outer end of the member 5 is formed with a concave saddle 6 and the inner end with an annular flange 7. The saddle 6 conforms to the curvature of the tube T which is wired to the saddle in the usual manner.

As stated heretofore, means are provided to hold the member 5 in any position to which it may be slidably-adjusted along the stem 1. The holding means comprises an element 8 which preferably consists of a substantially fiat piece of metal bent u on itself whereby it may be fitted over the ange 7 of the member 5. Both sides of the element position to which it may be moved are recessed to provide pairs of legs 9 and 10 respectively. The legs 9 fit over the member 5 and the legs 10 over the stem 1, the latter engaging the threads of the stem. When the parts are so engaged by the element 8, it will be readily appreciated that longitudinal movement of the'member 5 along the stem 1 in either direction is prevented except by turning the element 8 about the stem. In order to prevent the element from being jarred ofl' the parts or otherwise accidentally disengaged, one of the legs 10 is formed with a tang 11 which, when the element is in its proper position, may be bent inward until it engages the threads of the stem 1. This in eflect, closes the recess between the legs 10 and locks the element in position, that is to say prevents its removal. To remove the element, it is only necessary to bend the tang 11 back to its initial position-and then pull thevelement from the flange 7.

Inpractice the stem 1 is secured to the sign body 8* by the leaf 3 and screw 4 and the member 5 ,fitted over the projecting portion of the stem 1. This member is then adjusted outwardly until the saddle 6 fits conformably against the tube T. Obviously the adjustment maybe made by sliding the member to the desired position and then attaching the element 8 to the flange 7 or by initially attaching the element to the flange and then moving the member outwardly by turning the element about the stem whereby the engagement of the legs 10 with the threads of the stem effect a longitudinal movement of the member 5. It will be understood, of course, that when the element 8 is turned, the member 5 may be held against turning with the element and thus it may be properly guided against the tube T.

It will be noted that in the construction described the insulating member 5 extends for such distance beyond the stem 1 that an air gap 12 amply suflicient as a dielectric, is provided between the neon tube and the end of the stem.

Having fully described claim:

1. An insulator post for electroluminescent tubes, comprising a stem, of insulating materialslidably mounted on said stem and having a flange-and an element fitted over said flange and adapted to engage said stem to hold said member in any along said stem while permitting relative rotative movement between said member and said element.

2. An insulator post for electroluminescent tubes, comprising a stem, a member composed of insulating material slidably mounted on said stem and having a flange and an my invention, I

element removably fitted over said flange and adapted for engagement with said stem to hold said member in any position to which it may be moved along said stem while per.-

' tubes,

a member composed mitting relative rotative movement between said member and said element.

3, An insulator post for electroluminescent comprising a threaded stem, a cylin drical member composed of insulating material slidably fitted on said stein, said member having a flange, and an element fitted upon said flange and engaging the threads of sa1 stem whereby said member can be moved along said stem only by turning said element about said stem whlle permitting relative rotative movement between said member and said element.

4. An insulator post for electroluminescent tubes comprising a threaded stem, a cylindrical member composed of insulating material slidably fitted on said stem, said member having a flange and an element adapted for removable securement to said flange and which when secured engages the threads of said stem and permits relative rotative movement between said member and said element, thereby to prevent the movement of said member along said stem except by turning the element about said stem.

5. An insulator post for electroluminescent tubes comprising a threaded metallic stem, a glass sleeve slidably fitted on said stem, said sleeve having a flange, and means to hold said sleeve in any position to which it may be moved along said stem, said means comprising an element formed to fit upon said flange and adapted to permit relative rotative movement between said sleeve and said element, and having legs which fit over the being spaced from said tube to provide an air gap which is suflicient as a dielectric, an insulating member slidably carried by said stem and movable to aposition where its outer end engages saidtube, and means movable along the threads of said stem and adapted to engage and hold said member in engagement with said tube.

7. In combination with a supporting structure and an electroluminescenttube carried by said structure, a threaded metallic stem secured to said supporting structure so as to project toward said tube, the outer end of said stem-being spaced from said tube to provide an air gap which is sufiicient as a dielectric, a glass sleeve carried by said stem and movable to a position where its outer end engages said tube, and means carried by said sleeve and adapted to engage said stem to hold said sleeve in engagement with said tube.

8. An insulator post for electroluminescent tubes comprising a stem, a member composed of insulating material slidably mounted on said stem, an element attachable to and removable from said member and adapted for engagement with said stem to hold said member in any position to which it may be moved along said stem and means to lock said element on said member against lateral displacement, said locking means permitting relative rotative movements between said member and said element and said element and said stem.

9. An insulator post for electroluminescent tubes comprising a threaded stem, a cylindrical member composed of insulating material slidably fitted on said stem, said member having a flange, and a clip adapted to engage the upper and lower surfaces of said flange to permit relative rotative movement of said member with respect to said clip, the portion of the clip engaging the lower surface of the flange being adapted for threaded engagement with said stem to permitsaid member to be moved along said stem by turning said clip about said stem.

In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my signature.

HARRY J. CUDNEY. 

